Molecular phylogeny and symbiotic selectivity of the green algal genus Dictyochloropsis s.l. (Trebouxiophyceae): a polyphyletic and widespread group forming photobiont‐mediated guilds in the lichen family Lobariaceae. Issue 2 (21st January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dal Grande, Francesco; Beck, Andreas; Cornejo, Carolina; Singh, Garima; Cheenacharoen, Saran; Nelsen, Matthew P.; Scheidegger, Christoph
• Is Part Of: New phytologist. Volume 202:Issue 2(2014)
• Page Start: 455
• Page End: 470
• Publication Date: 2014-01-21
• Subjects: Botany -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/nph.12678
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-646X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="nph12678-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p> <list id="nph12678-list-0001" list-type="bullet"> <list-item> <p> <italic>Dictyochloropsis</italic> s.l. is an ecologically important, common but little‐studied genus of green algae. Here, we examined the diversity and host selectivity of algae attributed to this genus at both species‐to‐species and species‐to‐community levels.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>We conducted a molecular investigation of 15 cultured strains and several lichen photobionts, using <italic>18S </italic>rRNA, <italic> rbc</italic>L and ITS sequence data. We further used seven alga‐specific microsatellite markers to study algal sharing among fungi of the family Lobariaceae in two populations in Madeira and Taiwan (454 lichens).</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>We found that the genus <italic>Dictyochloropsis</italic> s.l. is polyphyletic. <italic>Dictyochloropsis</italic> clade 1 comprises only free‐living algae whereas <italic>Dictyochloropsis</italic> clade 2 includes lichenized algae as well as free‐living algae. Fungal selectivity towards algae belonging to <italic>Dictyochloropsis</italic> clade 2 is high. Selectivity varies geographically, with photobionts being restricted to a single region. Finally, we showed that <italic>Dictyochloropsis</italic> clade 2 individuals are shared among different fungal hosts in communities of lichens of the Lobariaceae.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>As for other green algal lineages, there is a high amount of cryptic diversity in <italic>Dictyochloropsis</italic>. Furthermore, co‐evolution between <italic>Dictyochloropsis</italic> clade 2 algae and representatives of the Lobariaceae is manifested at the community level, with several unrelated fungal species being horizontally connected by shared photobiont clones.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </abstract>